Clutching mechanisms for washing machines including an agitator



Aug. 2, 1960 E. FERNANDEZ CLUTCHING MECHANISMS FOR WASHING MACHINES INCkUDING AN AGITATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 18, 1958 gmvshigg a BY 1 fl My Aug. 2, 1950 I E. FERNANDEZ CLUTCHING MECHANISMS FOR WASHING MACHINES INCLUDING AN AGITATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 18, 1958 M HVENTOI}. BY J United States Patent Enrique Fernandez, 1600 CoronelMolinedo, Province of Buenos Aires,-Avellaneda, Argentina Filed Nov. 18, 1958, Ser. No. 774,707 2 Claims. (CI. 68-43) This invention relates to a washingmachine and more particularly it refers to a clutching mechanism for a washing machine of-the type comprising a stationary drain tub or water collector in which an upstading spin tub is rotatably housed and wherein in turn an upstanding agitator is rotatably housed, said clutching mechanism being adapted to clutch and declutch respectively said upstanding agitator and said upstanding spin tub from a rotary driving source. 7

' In the field of the above refered to type of washing machines the clutch units so far suggested are all of a very complicated-nature having many devices and most of them being'mechanically driven and fluid controlled.

It happens therefore quite often that these complicated mechanisms fail and require skilled labor to be repaired;

said spin tub is immobilized or vice versa, that is to say to clutch thespin tub whilst the agitator is declutched. More particularly, the present invention relates to a washing machine having a stationary drain tub, an upstanding spin tub rotatably housed in said stationary drain tub, an upstanding agitator housed in said spin tub, and a controllable reversible driving source including a driving shaft, a clutching mechanism comprising a hollow shaft integral with said spin tub, a shaft passing through said hollow shaft and rigidly connected to said agitator, a pulley driven by said driving shaft and including a cylindrical projection coaxial with said pulley, a commanding disc loosely mounted on said cylindrical projection, a crank member rigidly mounted on said cylindrical projection, resilient means urging said commanding disc into frictional engagement with said crank member, a crank loosely mounted on said shaft of said agitator, a lever pivotally linking said crank member with said crank for transforming a rotary movement into an oscillatory movement, clutching means slidably mounted on said shaft of said agitator and adapted to clutch said crank for transmitting the oscillatory movement of said crank to said shaft, a lever linkage operatively connected to said clutching means, a projecting arm integral with said commanding disc and connected to said lever linkage, so that when said pulley is rotated in one direction it is adapted to frictionally swing said commanding disc in said direction to operate through said lever linkage said clutching means to clutch said crank, whilst when rotated in opposite direction said clutching means is adapted to declutch said crank.

' It is an object of the present invention to provide such a: clutching arrangement, which is simply operated by changing the direction of rotation of the electric motor, which is usually thepower source.

. These and further objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent during the course 1 Patented Aug. 2, 1960 ment will be described by way of example, in relation: ship to the accompanying drawings, wherein;

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a washing machine, partially in longitudinal section, including the clutching mechaism, according to the present invention.

Fig. '2 is a schematic top plan view of the washing ma chine below the panel 6 with a number of portions not shown in order to clearly illustrate the transmission. This view shows the'transmission in the position when the upstanding spin tub (not shown) rotates to carry out the centrifuging step.

Fig. 3 is a similar cross section as Fig. 2, showing the same mechanism in the position corresponding to the oscillatory movement about the substantially vertical axis of the agitator (not shown).

Fig. 4 is a detail in longitudinal section of part of the clutching mechanism when in the position corresponding to that shown in Fig. 2 and which also agrees with the position shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a similar longitudinal section as that of Fig. 4, showing the same elements when in the position corresponding to that described in relationship to Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a detail in longitudinal section of a develop ment of the free wheel arrangement.

- As may be seen in- Fig. 1 the washing machine cornprises an outer casing 1 having on its top the usual door (not shown) for charging the clothes into an upstanding spin tub 2 housed in a stationary drain tub or water collector 3 rigidly mounted in said outer casing 1. The upstanding tub 2, is mounted for rotation about its vertical axis 4. a An upstanding agitator 5 is arranged in said "tub 2 and provided with means to oscillate about said axis 4, as will be later seen.

' A panel 6 is arranged below said drain tub 3 to sepa-' rate in the outer casing 1 the upper portion from the lower portion wherein the driving unit and clutching mechanism a first belt 12, which drives a double pulley 13 freely panel 6. '13 ofthe double pulley 13 a second belt 16 is arranged mounted on a hollow shaft 14 coaxial with the longitudinal axis 4 and arranged in a stationary bushing 15 supported by the panel 6 and arranged above said On the smaller diameter or second pulley (see also Fig. 2) which is furthermore mounted on a third pulley 17 arranged on an intermediary shaft 18, which is further provided with a fourth pulley 19 of smaller diameter than said third pulley 17 and which fourth pulley 19 is provided with a third belt 20. Shaft 18 is again supported by the panel 6 (not shown in Fig. 2). The third belt 20 drives a fifth pulley 21 loosely mounted on a transmission shaft 22 (see also Fig. 1).

A solid shaft 23 is rotatably mounted inside the hollow "shaft 14, and on the upper end of said solid shaft 23 is of the following description, wherein a specific embodi- 7 her 31-.

keyed :the upstanding agitator 5. The solid shaft 23 passes through the double pulley 13 and accessories (to which reference will be made later on) and rigidly supports at its lower endportion, as may be better seen in 1 Fig. 4, a collar member 24, which is keyed onto the shaft 23 by key 25, and which is provided with an upstanding clutching teeth ring 26. A commanding ring 27 integral with a fork member 28 is pivoted by means of pivot 29 to a'first lever 30 supported by a stationary fulcrum mem- It will be appreciated by comparing Figs. 4 and 5 that the collar member 24 is adapted to slide up and down along axis 4 by swinging the first lever 30 about pivot 29. I l A crank 32 is freely mounted on the solid shaft 23.

above the collar member 24 and is likewise provided with a clutching teeth ring 33 facing the upstanding clutching teeth ring 26. :A stub shaft;, 34 (see Fig. 1) is arranged tea-bush n $2i.oi. i Z-: i1d urt er onne ted to a lever 35, 1 the 'oth'er. end v of which is connected. to 5 pivot 3Jn9ur ed. n,. r e t n j-l f crank niember- 37" ri'gidly conne cted to the cylindrical projectioil; 21' "of the fifthipulleyi 21., A coinmanding disc 38.-is freely mounted onfsaid. cylindricalprojection. 21: on: top of 'saidcrank-rnember 37 and bearing against-a shoulder 39 j of said cylindrical projection 21?. A helical compression spr ng 40.,is. arranged between said-commanding dis; SSQandjsaid iifth pulley-21.,

Turning now to'Fi'g. 2, it may beappreciatedthat said cornmandingdisc 3&provides ,a cam. portion .41 and ajradially projectingarm. zwlwhich byrneans of ivotiis islinliedfto. a second lever..44, the other end portion of which 'i's'bent at90 and as shown in.Figs l, 4and 5 is connected. by .means of pivot .45 tov the first lever 30.

Turning nowonce more to Fig. 1 below the double pulleylll afree wheelclutching disc 46 is loosely mounted, on the lower free end of the hub 47 and isfurther pro-- vid'edonjts periphery with aplurality ofradially-spaced apart recesses 48 T(se'e also. Fig. 2). The-free wheel. arrangement may-be vof any ,knowntype of forinstancethahshown in.Fig. 6. More particularly, thedoublepulley 13 is provided with a plurality .of spaced, apart pins 4 (only one .visible) which are housed incorrespondirig housings" 50 and dueto gravity tend to fall downwardly, onto the slopedsurfaces 51 of the free wheel clutching; dis'c'46. It will be..understoo d by..those skilled in the art, that-when. the double pulley 13,turns in one, direction the. pins .49 will. butt. against .the upstanding surfacesf52 and thereby drag, along'the free wheel clutching disc 46,. Whilst,when rotating in oppositedirection the. disc 46, remains stationary. A friction.,disc 53.is rigidly connected to-thehollow shaft l4 and .in frictionalengagemont with thefree wheel, clutching disc 46. 1

Reverting nowagain to Fig. 2, it may be appreciated. thattheblocliing. lever.54- is-mounted on a pivot .55 and. 1' has a projeeting' blocking tooth 56. adapted to enter into anyfof .the reces'ses48' and a .cam operated endportion- 54' in operativerelationship with the cam .portion,41..of theaconunariding disc .38. A spring 57 is connected to saidblockinggleverl54.between..said.pivot 55 and said c 'i t Loperated.end portion 54? and. is further. connected toastationarybrwkfl 58,.;so. that said spring-. 57 tends v to rotate. said; blocking lever .54. in clockwise directionb -str ve: -1 U A s to the; operation. of the clutching mechanism of the 50 wah1r g. rnachine.,according to the present invention, as; sunring: that.fin;.first. instance, the upstanding spin tub 2 has, already .been charged-with .clothesand, soapy water and;. that-a washing; step is' .to :be. performed, the vertical driving shaft;10 rotated inthe direction indicated .55 arrow 59,.(see- Fig.3) it will be appreciated that :tliefifth pullfiy 21-.-will be.rotated in the direction indicated by arrow-60,.@that is to-Sa-yin counterclockwisedirectiom. whereby .the .helic.al ,compressing .spring 40..'(see ;Fig. 1) will transmit .this movementby friction: to. the. commander. 60 ing; dise, 38, ;which will likewise, rotate inthe direction indicated by arrow 60aandthecamportion 41..will, be. withdrawn from thecam. operated end portion. 54'. (come. pare Figs. 2 and 3) sothat asshowninFig. 3 the spring 57-.will,.urge, theblocking ..1ever 54iiniclockwise direction: wherebythe projection block ,tooth .56, .will .enter .one recess, .48 of .the .free. wheel. clutching disc .46, .so .thatsaid disc. ,will. not. rotaterinspiteof the. factthatthe pins 49, (see Fig. .l).will slideoversaid disc .46 duetothe rotator y -moyement of. '.the. .double .pulley v1 3; and. =thu s no. movement is transmitted, to friction .disc. 53, which ,re-- no. s at ned n with .it likeWisethe upstanding spin,

multa eou y.,thecounWrch kwise o a i at is tosay'in'the'direction of arrow 60 of the commandin disc 38 will produce a backward movement of the second lever 44 due to the radially projecting arm 42, so that said second lever 44 will move in the direction indicated by arrow 61 to adopt the position shown in Fig. 5, whereby the fork member 28 will raise the collar member 24, thereby clutching, the clutching rings 26 and 33. Thus the rotatory movement which is transmitted by the fifth. pulley;2 1.(see.Fig. 1) tothe.crank-member '37 is converted .in. an.oscillatory,,movement through the. lever 35 to the crank 32 and through the clutch rings 33, 26 to the collar member '24 and'solid shaft 23, whereby the upstanding agitator 5 carries out its oscillatory movement about the verticaliaxis 4;--

To perform thecentrifuging step allthat is necessary is to change the direction of rotation' ofthe vertical driving shaft 10; more particularly said shaft 10 has to to tate in the direction indicated by arrow 62 in Fig. 2, wherebythe'fifth pulley 21 will .rotate in the direction indicated by arrow 63, so that saidmovement is trans mitted by friction to the-commanding disc 38-=and -'the cam. portion 41, will act on the camoperated endportiom 54', whereby theprojecting block tooth 56 is withdrawn. from-:its-recess 48, whereby the free wheelclutchingdisc- At thesame time -the=radially; projectingarm 42 of; the commanding disc 48 pushesi the second lever 44 forward in the direction shown by.

46is free to operate.

arrow-64 in Fig. 4, thus withdrawing the upstanding clutching teeth ring 26..from the clutching teeth-ring 33.-

Simultaneously the pins 49 will abut againstthe upstanding surfaces 52, thereby dragging alongthe free. wheel clutching disc 46, which by frictionwill gradually transmit, the full speed'to thefriction disc-53 which through hollowshaft 14 will rotate. the upstanding spin tub ,2 in which the clothes are housed andsaid-upstanding agitator 5 is free to-rotate therewithin asmuch as the clothesywill act as a functional linkage. between the upstanding spintub 2 and the upstanding agitator 5.

Dueto the arrangement of the frictional coupling during the. centrifuging ,step of the free wheel clutching disc 46-with thegfriction disc 53, the. upstanding spin .tub 2 with: said spin tub, a shaft'passing through said hollowshaft and rigidly connected to said'agitator, a double. pulley; mounted -.on said hollow shaft, said. double pulley. comprisinga first pulley and-.a second pulley, afirstbelt'.connecti ng, said driving pulleywith said first pulley, anintermediary shaft, a third pulley and, a fourth pulley mountedzon said; intermediary. shaft, a secondbelt co 1-.v necting said second pulley to said thirdpulley,-a trans-H mission-shaft,- a fifth pulley having a coaxial cylindrical.

projectionand mountedonsaid transmissionshaft, a third belt connectingsaid fourth pulley to saidfifth pul ley, a comrnandingdiscloosely mountedmn'said cylindrical projectiom-a cam. portion and -a projecting arms intgeral, with .said -.commandingdisc, a crank member.

rigidly: mountedon said cylindrical projection, resilient means-urging said commanding disc-into.frictionalengagernenh with-said crank;.member,- a crank-loosely mounted on said shaft of said agitator, a leverpivotally'.

linking said. crank member with said: crank. for. transforming. a rotarymovement into an oscillatory movement, clutching means consisting of a collar. member slidably mounted on said shaft of said. agitator, "a fork' member forupward and downward sliding .said collar member, a lever linkage connecting saidfork member.

with said projecting arm,- an upstanding clutching teeth ring integral with said collarmember, a clutching teeth" 5 7 ring integral with said crank and facing said upstanding clutching teeth ring, said upstanding clutching teeth ring being adapted to clutch said clutching teeth ring by upward sliding movement of said fork member, said lever linkage being capable of raising said collar member when said fifth pulley is rotated in one direction by frictionally swinging said commanding disc in a direction to correspondingly operate said lever linkage, whilst when rotating in opposite direction to carry out the declutching by downward movement of said upstanding clutching teeth ring, a free wheel clutching disc loosely mounted on said hollow shaft below said double pulley, a friction disc rigidly mounted on said hollow shaft and in frictional engagement with said free wheel clutching disc, pin means housed in said double pulley for clutching said free wheel clutching disc when said double pulley rotates in opposite direction to said one direction, said free wheel clutching disc being provided with at least one recess on its periphery, a pivot, a blocking lever pivotally supported by said pivot and including a cam operated end portion at one side of said pivot and a projecting block tooth at the other side of said pivot, resilient means References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,512,847 Conterman June 27, 1950 2,639,618 McNairy May 26, 1953 21647587 Lund Aug. 4, 1953 2,775,883 Burris Jan. 1, 1957 2,826,056 Bruckman Mar. 11, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,019,480 France Oct. 29, 1952 

